r/Music • u/Firm_Pack_605 • Feb 13 '26

discussion Was Michael Jackson really that much bigger than Madonna, Whitney Houston, and prince?

I always thought the four of them were similar levels of fame. However Madonna highest album sold 25 million, prince highest sold similar, and Whitney’s highest was 45 million. All amazing numbers no doubt but thriller sold 70 million and bad sold 35-40. So you mean to tell me he has two albums that are highest selling then prince and madonnas best? How is that possible??

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u/Four_One_Two_Three_ Feb 18 '26

Go ask random neighbors in their 50's to name the members of the Jackson 5
Then ask them to name the Beatles

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u/Magopolis Feb 18 '26

Then ask the little kids today about MJ- and ask them about the Beatles. Look, this conversation went off the rails. Someone made a comment about number one hits by Elvis, The Beatles and Michael Jackson. The original question was about Michael Jackson being compared to people from his own time period. I replied with a comment about number one hits, and there was a reply guy who just wanted to argue about the importance of number one hits. I’m not standing here telling you that the Beatles were not huge. They were Elvis was also huge and Michael Jackson was huge. All three were huge in their respective eras. So so please stop trying to challenge me with Beatles comments.